"In their fight against a huge petrochemical plant, Louisiana's "Cancer Alley" activists say somebody major has been missing — their congressman, Rep. Cedric Richmond.

The Formosa Plastics Group project, permitted to annually emit as much pollution as 2.6 million cars, has galvanized local Black activists and environmental justice leaders such as Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and the Rev. William Barber, who traveled from out of state to visit the affected communities.

But locals say they couldn't get Richmond (D) to show up or even get him on the phone.

"I asked his senior adviser to ask him to come down, but he said at the time [Richmond] was working with the Biden campaign," said Sharon Lavigne, a resident of St. James Parish who has organized against the project."

Jean Chemnick and Adam Aton report for E&E News November 18, 2020. [2]